“Why? Because he fucked your ex-girlfriend? Maybe you’re still hung up on her,” she hissed, and I moved close to her, backing her up until her ass hit the counter of the island.
“Don’t fucking twist this. I don’t give two shits about her, and you know it. I don’t like the guy; he’s bad news. I don’t want you alone with him. That’s all I’m saying.” My hand moved to her neck, and my thumb traced along her jaw.
Her gaze softened. “Fine. I’ll agree to meet him out in a group and invite my siblings, and you can even be there. But do not go all caveman barbarian on me. He doesn’t know we’re together, and he doesn’t need to. The first time I turned him down, I was single. I’ve got this handled.”
“Fine. I can live with that.”
She smiled. “Did we just work through our first disagreement? At least our first disagreement today.”
I leaned forward and kissed her. I’d let this go for now, but I had every intention of watching that bastard like a hawk.
She had no idea what a piece of shit the guy was.
“Are you going to be a baby all night?” Brinkley asked as we drove to Garrity’s, her family’s bar that Hugh and Lila also ran.
Apparently, Breen was in town with a few friends, some of them being women. Of course, my girlfriend was thrilled to tell me it was more of a couple’s trip. She loved proving me wrong, but I’d noticed the way he’d looked at her that first time he’d been in town, and that dude was not inviting her out as a friendly gesture.
“I’m not being a baby. I’m looking forward to seeing your family.” I’d been going to Sunday dinners for weeks now, and they’d all become friends of mine at this point. I played cards with all the guys last week, and they’d somehow convinced me to make our trip to Iowa for Lionel a full-blown boys’ trip.
“Remember… he’s a client, and I’ve got it handled. Don’t be storming the castle if the guy says hello to me.”
“I will let you handle it.” I shrugged.
Unless he’s inappropriate, which I know he’s capable of because I’ve heard a lot of rumblings about the dude.
But I wouldn’t go there right now.
When we arrived at the bar, everyone was already there. Maddox and his brother, Wyle, called me over to join in on a game of darts before Cage and Hugh came to join us, holding a bunch of beers. Finn was away filming final edits on his new show, and it was all everyone in town was talking about.
Brinkley walked over to meet her sister and Lila, who had drinks at the table, with a few different appetizers there, as well. There was no sign of the dickhead Lockhart, and a part of me hoped he wouldn’t show up.
“You really don’t like the guy, huh?” Hugh asked, keeping his voice low. He remembered how I’d warned him about Breen back when his sister still hated me.
“Just heard a lot of things. I don’t like the idea of her being alone with him.”
“Well, you’ve got all of us here, so there’s nothing to worry about,” Cage said, glancing at the door when a loud ruckus pulled our attention away.
In walked Breen, along with three dudes that looked somewhat familiar. They were most likely hockey players, but they definitely didn’t play for the Lions because I knew all the players on that team. There were at least five women with them, and the whole group looked heavily intoxicated.
“There she is!” Breen shouted. “This girl right here did me right in her article!”
He wrapped an arm around Brinkley, and my hands fisted at my sides as we stood a good twenty feet away from them.
He stood behind her, his arm around her neck as he kissed her cheek.
“Easy, brother. Nothing’s going to happen with all of us here,” Maddox said, keeping his voice low. The dude was as cool as they come, and we’d grown close.
“I’m so down for a brawl,” Wyle said. “I never mind a good bar fight.”
“Well, it’s not great for business, so let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. But we’ve got your back if necessary.” Hugh sipped his beer, and his gaze moved from me to his sister.
Brinkley looked completely relaxed as she laughed and shook hands with each person in their group before introducing Lila and Georgia, as well. She was right. She could handle herself.
But it wasn’t her that I was worried about.
I continued playing darts, my gaze moving over to their table every few minutes. Breen’s group had pulled up a table beside them, and they were ordering shots and beers and having a good time.
We took a break and walked over to get some food. I stood beside Brinkley. Her hand found mine beneath the table, and she smiled up at me as if to say, I was right. You were worried for nothing.
“Well, if it isn’t the fucking GOAT of the NFL. Lincoln fucking Hendrix, I didn’t know you were still in town.”
“I’m sure you’re more than aware that I’m writing a story about Lincoln. It’s public knowledge, and it would be hard to miss for anyone in the sports world,” Brinkley said with a laugh, raising a brow as if she were challenging him.
“Isn’t that coming out soon? I just figured that was long over. Can’t imagine there’s a whole lot to ask this guy. Seems like all he does is play football and fuck women.” His words were slurred.
My shoulders stiffened. “You don’t know shit about me. But you sure do seem to care, don’t you?”
“I just don’t get the hype. You’re not all that great. You just steal all the thunder from every other athlete in the city.” He tipped his head back and slammed another shot.
“Dude. He’s called the GOAT because his stats are fucking incredible,” one of the guys said before turning to me and extending his arm. “I’m Elliott Franks. I just signed with the Lions, and I’m a huge fan.”
“Thank you. Nice to meet you.” I glanced over at Breen, who was chugging his beer now and pouting. “I’m not even living in San Francisco anymore. The glory is all yours, brother. I’m sure you’re more than aware that I’m moving on.”
“Yeah, man. Did they kick your old ass to the curb?” His words were barely legible, and I glanced over to see Hugh, Cage, Maddox, and Wyle all squaring their shoulders like they were ready to teach this guy a lesson. My gaze locked with each one of them, and I held up a hand. I wasn’t going to make a scene. He was an asshole, no doubt about it, but my girl was on a roll with her new career, and I wouldn’t do anything to ruin that.
Breen was older than me, so I had no idea why he was calling out my age. The guys that were with him did not look impressed, but the girls were giggling and hanging all over him.
“Sure. Something like that, buddy.” I reached for my beer and took a sip. Brinkley looked at me, and her lips turned up in the corners. She knew he was egging me on, and I was doing whatever I could not to react.
“You still pissed that your woman came to my bed while she was with you? She couldn’t wait to fuck me when you failed to please her. Did you put that in your article, Brinks?” he said with a boisterous laugh. “Because I fucked your ex real good for you.”